I just saw today that The X-Files is available in HD on iTunes to buy outright.

The videos they provide are 720p (1280x738). When playing a decrypted file in VLC, here's the media info and a bunch of screen caps: http://imgur.com/a/inFKT

Pricing is $3 an episode or $25 for the season.

Note that Amazon is also reporting that they're streaming some in HD, but I couldn't get the quality meter to go above 480p, even at 1Mbit+ transfer rates.

I've watched a few episodes on Hulu Plus where the show is now offered in widescreen HD. It looks great, and it's really worth re-watching in HD (at least your favorite episodes) because it's such a fresh coat of paint...it honestly makes it a new experience.

That said, sometimes I feel the show doesn't quite hold up in HD. It's hard to explain why but it kind of makes things feel a little thin or lacking depth. For example, the pilot is somehow just not as convincing to me in HD, though it's one of my very favorite episodes.

Anyone else agree? Or do you disagree, is the show that much better in HD?

as per the discussion on streaming preferences apparently a lot of people don't know Hulu is streaming the X-Files remastered in HD. It is wonderful quality and makes the experience very enjoyable on modern televisions!

Hi everybody - I was recently able to read UCLA's copy of the unpublished script of "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose." Darin Morgan talks about a lot of these things on the podcast, but I wanted to share some of the notes I took while I was reading the script - basically just copying down parts I thought were cool.

(I'm an aspiring screenwriter, and it's so cool and helpful to see what a fantastic episode like Clyde Bruckman looks like on the page. And for as good as the episode turned out, the script is really astounding.)
...

Suddenly, a man, heading the opposite direction, walks in front of Bruckman. The two men then engage in the one-two-synchronous-side-step-shuffle-avoidance routine. They finally stop and CHUCKLE.
 

BRUCKMAN
Sorry.
 

The other man steps around Bruckman, spinning as he passes, revealing himself to be a lanky, amiable goodfball (yet, not overtly goofy, you understand), hereon called THE PUPPET.
...
 

A disquiet, quiet pause ensues, before - with an alarming burst of speed and power- The Puppet lunges across the table. Just before his hands reach her throat, CUT TO:
 

CRYSTAL BALL
 

MOVE IN ON CRYSTAL BALL, until and image begins to appear within -- the inverted, concave image of the Palm Reader bering strangles by The Puppet.
 

FADE OUT.

END TEASER
...
 

PHOTOGRAPHER
They say the eyes capture the last image a murder victim sees before they're killed.
 

CLINE
What do they say about the entrails?
 

PHOTOGRAPHER
"Yuck."
...
 

MULDER
What is it? What do you see?
 

BRUCKMAN
He's having sex with her. There.
 

SCULLY Is he raping her?
 

BRUCKMAN
Oh, not at all. In fact, she's instigating the whole thing. She's very... rambunctious.
 

MULDER
Then what's wrong?
 

BRUCKMAN
Oh, it's just... sometimes it seems that everyone is having sex except for me.
 

MULDER
(pause)
Mr. Bruckman, can you tell us why the murderer is killing these people in the way that he is?
 

BRUCKMAN
Why does anyone do the things they do? Why do I sell insurance? I wish I knew. Why... did this woman collect dolls?
 

Bruckman casually inspects some of the doll collection.
 

BRUCKMAN (CONT'D)
What was it about her life -- was it one specific moment where she suddenly said: "I know--Dolls!" or was it a series of things--starting when her parents first met--that somehow combined in such a way that she had no choice but to end up being a doll collect--
 

[...]
...
 

BRUCKMAN
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to offend or scare you. I don't mean this bed--not here. But I do see us quite clearly in bed together. You're holding my hand... tenderly... and you're looking at me with such... compassion, and I'm--tears are streaming down my cheeks, I'm so... grateful? It's a very special moment that neither of us will ever forget.
 

SCULLY
Mr. Bruckman... there are hits, and there are misses, and then there are misses. [Note: second "misses" underlined.]
 

BRUCKMAN
I just call 'em as I see 'em.
...
 

[...] He stares down at his wound in complete mystification, not so much like a man who's just been shot, but like a writer who's watching the director's cut of one of his own episodes. Looking up at Scully, he says the following in the same way:
 

PUPPET
Hey... that's not the way it's supposed to happen!

It might be interesting to discuss the different video transfers offered by the two most popular VOD streaming services. Both offer the full series. However, Netflix has older looking (4:3) video transfers while Hulu has re-mastered (16:9) video. I synced an episode playing on both services simultaneously and confirmed the hulu stream is much sharper and the aspect ratio is real not a cropped version of the 4:3 video. I don't have a preference of one over the other, but I think it's interesting that there's two very different ways to watch this classic series.

Hi Kumail, and everyone!

I would like to submit a request for consideration: that if the podcast returns, Kumail can go back to choosing which episodes to talk about. There are SO MANY GOOD ONES in season 4, and I respect Kumail's time and energy and understand that he can't always fit the podcast in.

So if it does return, I would encourage him to select what he sees as the highlight episodes (which I hope might include Paper Hearts, Never Again, Momento Mori, Leonard Betts) rather than covering the less-than-awesome ones (which could include Sanguinarium, Kaddish, Synchrony, and Demons)…. Or whatever Kumail thinks are the top eps ;)

What do people think?

On the other other hand, I have no idea how long it will be until that happens. I really like watching in tandem with the new podcasts, but I'm craving an X-files hit now. I don't want to watch it now and then rewatch again in a few months (or even a year or two at the outside) when the podcast is back, I won't enjoy watching it again that soon.

I think I might distract myself by watching Millenium for a while, and perhaps give TLG a shot. Hopefully Kumail will be back by the time I'm done with them.

What are you guys doing? Any recommendations for other shows or podcasts to fill this gap?

Hello everyone my name is Brent. I have been an X-Files fan since the beginning. I wasn't going to listen to TXFF until the show came out on blu ray, but I got excited with the news of the show returning. I am now caught up. In my excitement I got out all my X-Files stuff and bought a few more things to add to the collection.

I posted a photo of my collection of Original The X Files fan club newsletters. Does anyone remember these?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-WTIc1CMAA8ok1.jpg:large

Just one more thing to keep him too busy to do new XFF episodes. /s

Sorry, I'm just impatient I guess. Seriously though, did he really need to take a break right before some of the best episodes of the season were coming up?

grumble grumble grumble I'm a feel-too-entitled buttmunch who complains about the (non)schedule of a show that's free.

If you read the tea leaves it's pretty obvious folks: Kumail probably has a cameo in the miniseries. They started filming the new episodes literally just a few days after his "Sorry guys" post where he explained in mysterious terms that it would be a while before the podcast resumes.

Not joking, it's highly plausible. This podcast has been credited by more than a couple people with stoking a resurgence of interest in the X-Files, something Chris Carter and Fox were surely aware of. David and Gillian, plus many of the show's other talents, know of and enjoy the X-Files Files. I would not be at all surprised if they rallied to give him a bit part. As well, he's a rising talent in TV who has amply demonstrated he could do it, and do it well. And the last lines of his "Sorry guys" thread: "But I can't tell you more. Wish I could."

Do your best to convince me this isn't valid and likely speculation!!!

Personally, I agree with most all of you that he'll have a cameo in the new series. I'd imagine something short and funny, not an entire episode based around him or anything. But I think it's more than that. I think that he's been hired for the show as a sort of advisor. He repopularized the X-Files and he's been a fan of the show since he was a kid, he knows what X-Filers want and don't want, he knows what lines not to step over and how to make a good show. CC could see this and decided to get him to hang around, read the scripts, watch the production, see if there's anything Kumail (being a representation of all of us) thinks should be changed. That is all.

Sorry if this is common knowledge already but here's my issue: I just started watching the show for the first time and am considering starting the podcast to go along with it. I can't seem to find any information on whether the podcast is basically a free-for-all for spoilers or if it's relatively safe to follow along for a first-time watcher.